#IdleNoMore

and the Remaking of Canada

Author/Illustrator/Editor: Ken Coates

Idle No More bewildered many Canadians. Launched in reaction to a federal omnibus budget bill, the protest became the most powerful demonstration of Aboriginal identity in Canadian history. Thousands of Aboriginal people and their supporters took to the streets, drumming, dancing, and singing in a collective voice. It was a protest against generations of injustice, a rallying cry for cultural survival, and a reassertion of Aboriginal identity. Idle No More lasted for almost a year, and then the rallies dissipated. Many observers described it as a spent force. It was anything but. Idle No More was the most profound declaration of Indigenous identity in Canadian history, sparked by Aboriginal women and their supporters, sustained by Indigenous youth filled with pride and determination. Through Idle No More, Aboriginal people have declared that they are a vital and necessary part of Canada’s future. The spirit of the movement lives on in empowered and confident young Aboriginal people who will shape the future of this country for decades to come.